News from President Jessica Stumpf

We’re Almost There!

Thank you for making this semester a wonderful start to the 2012-2013 academic year. I wish everyone luck in the next week wrapping up the work for fall and look forward to starting out spring 2013 with a flourish.

I look forward to welcoming Anoka Technical College faculty to campus for Development Days, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. Please review the Development Day letter from Vice Presidents of Academic and Student Affairs, DeeDee Peaslee and Cathi Gatewood (Anoka Tech). The full schedule for Spring 2013 Development Days can be found here: http://anokaramsey.edu/employeehome/FacultyResources.aspx

Music Building Grand Opening Event

We are excited to welcome Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä who will speak during the program.

MORE ABOUT THE BUILDING and MUSIC PROGRAM

Between 2000 and 2010, Anoka-Ramsey Music programs experienced a 198.1% increase in students. The Music Building renovation will serve this increasingly expanding programming and house all of the college’s music courses and music faculty members. The renovation of the Music Building is the second phase of a fine arts initiative intended to modernize and renew approximately 17,171 sq. ft. in the 40-year-old Fine Arts Building to enhance the quality of the teaching and learning environment for music programs and courses. The completed renovation provides a larger and updated choir/recital classroom, an updated band room, new student collaboration spaces and a new small ensemble classroom. A feature of the facility is the skyway that connects the Music Building to the new Visual Arts Center which houses glassblowing, photography and ceramics studios, computer labs and recital/gallery space. Come and check it out!

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Resource Report Distributed

Submitted by Tina Perpich, Marketing and Public Relations

The college’s annual Resource Report mailed last week to approximately 35,000 foundation donors, legislators, community leaders and alumni.

The Resource Report is an annual publication developed to report the college’s financials, promote the college as community and state resource, and to thank those who support the college and its mission. Content includes alumni profiles, annual foundation and college financials, donor lists and general information about the college and its impact. The publication is also given to visitors to the college throughout the year.

If you have questions about the publication, or have suggestions for next year’s issue, please feel free to contact me via email or Ext. 1545.

Submitted by Roger Freeman, Facilities Director

Anoka-Ramsey’s own Chief Facilities Engineer, Jim Nieswaag was named Engineer of the Year at the 2012 Minnesota Chief Engineers Guild annual conference this fall.

Jim has been a guild board member for many years, a past president and is currently the chair of the guild’s education committee.

The guild was established in 1943 to unite employees of the State of Minnesota who are actively engaged in the field of maintenance and engineering; in managerial, supervisory, or support positions; and who affect both the art and science of efficient planning, managing, and maintaining the physical environment, equipment, and systems of state facilities.

Feel free to stop by to congratulate Jim on this great work and this prestigious recognition!

Toys for Tots and Food Drive Extended

Submitted by Phi Theta Kappa

Donations will still be accepted until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Bring non-perishable food items and personal care/hygiene products (soap, shampoo, baby lotion and wipes, etc.) as well as unwrapped new items, especially for 12 to 16 year olds, to any of the food drive and Toys for Tots boxes located in the following areas:

Testing Center in Coon Rapids

The make-up testing schedule in the Coon Rapids Campus Testing Center is being changed this spring semester to more effectively accommodate students.

The adjusted schedule make-up testing schedule is:

Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

(NOTE: Make-up testing will NOT be offered on Thursdays in spring semester at the Coon Rapids Campus.)

Due to the new make-up testing schedule, the Coon Rapids Campus spring Accuplacer schedule is:

Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(*Accuplacer testing will NOT be available on Wednesdays in the spring semester at the Coon Rapids Campus.)

Graduate Vocal Performance Dec. 17

Submitted by Kate Hudja, Music Department

Rachel Block will perform a graduate vocal recital:

Monday, Dec. 17
7:30 p.m.
Coon Rapids Campus Performing Arts Center

The recital is free and open to everyone.

Rachel is graduating with an Associate of Fine Arts degree in music. She will perform works in several languages by several composers including Mozart, Sondheim, Wolf and Debussy. She will be joined by several first-year students studying voice. With this recital, Rachel will complete all degree requirements and graduate this semester. Congratulations Rachel!

Sign Up for a Chair Massage!

Submitted by Joyce Traczyk, Student Activities

Once again, the Wellness Works Employee Wellness Program will be offering chair massages!

Massages are:

Wednesday, Dec. 19.

Sign up in person at the Information Desk at the Cambridge Campus or at the Employee Wellness program bulletin board at the Coon Rapids Campus (located by Central Services).

Pause for Appreciation

Student Art Sale Breaks Sales Record

Submitted by Laura Migliorino, Art Faculty

I want to first and foremost thank the students who put so much into making the student art sale such a success. However, it would not be the event it is without the overwhelming support of our college, staff, faculty and students!

I also want to thanks Roger Freeman and his crew for helping out, Erick Wiger for being the go to guy in the morning, and Sherry Hill and Diane DenBeste in the Business Office.

News from President Jessica Stumpf

2013 Board of Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence Nominations

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Cambridge and Thursday, Dec. 6, in Coon Rapids, I had the pleasure of recognizing Anoka-Ramsey’s 2013 Board of Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence Nominees. Anoka-Ramsey’s nominating committee reviewed 109 nominations for more than 60 faculty members. After careful review, the committee selected Andy Aspaas from Cambridge and Jim Biederman and Scott Ford from Coon Rapids to represent Anoka-Ramsey at the system-level.

Thank you to the committee for your work in reviewing and selecting these nominees. I know the decisions must have been difficult considering the amount of talent and dedication at the college.

To Andy, Jim and Scott, congratulations on your nominations and good luck!

Volunteers to Serve on the Vice President of Administration & Finance/Chief Financial Officer Search Committee

Anoka Technical College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College are currently seeking volunteers to serve on the search committee for the aligned position of Vice President of Administration & Finance/CFO. Please contact your constituent head in order to express interest in serving on this committee. Please see the attached memo.

Inclement Weather or Other Emergencies

The decision to close the campuses or college, delay opening or cancel classes and/or activities resides with the college president or designee. The closure of state agencies by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Management & Budget does not apply to MnSCU institutions. Click here to view Anoka-Ramsey’s Weather and Emergency Closing or Cancellations procedure.

New Student Log On: StarID

For student email, the student’s email address will continue to be his/her user name, but the password will be the same as the other three

Special note for faculty members who use D2L: Like students, your D2L user name will change from Tech ID (or current user name) to StarID. You too will want to activate your StarID any time before Jan. 7, if you haven’t done so already, at http://starid.mnscu.edu/. None of your other credentials will change at this time.

A few things faculty and staff may want to know about this change:

StarIDs are created at admission, but students need to activate them (anyone can help with this!).

Students will be asked to begin activate and begin using StarIDs on Jan. 7, which is when the technology services will be synced.

Activating StarID is VERY straightforward…almost EASY!

Star ID can be activated from anywhere students have internet access.

Local IT staff will not be able to activate StarID or change passwords for any of the applications (e-services, ATC network, D2L, email).

Most students (95-99%) will need no technical help to activate a StarID; for those 1-5%, IT can check if bad data is preventing activation and help students get it corrected.

Students will receive information about this change through multiple venues: Web page, email, posters, digital signage, information cards with instructions at all computer areas, information desk, counseling and advising.

Faculty members and staff will receive documentation and/or have the opportunity to see a demo on StarID activation, so you’ll feel comfortable helping students if they ask.

Students will need internet access to activate StarID. Some computer workstations will be set up around the campuses and in college labs specifically to provide internet access to activate StarID. Students can access others with have a generic password before classes begin and during the first week of classes.

Golden Rams Soccer Players Earn All-American Honors

Submitted by Dave Alto, Athletics Department

Golden Rams Men’s Soccer player, college sophomore Atanas Karagyaurov (Elk River High School), and Women’s Soccer player, college freshman Shelby Zimmel (Coon Rapids High School), were both recently named to the 2012 NJCAA Division III All-American First Team.

Atanas was instrumental in the Men’s team taking its fourth consecutive Region XIII Championship and in the team’s 2nd place finish in the District C Championship game.

Shelby is the first Women’s Soccer player in Anoka-Ramsey’s history to earn an All-American honor. Shelby played a key role in helping her team win their first Region XIII Championship and in earning a 3rd place finish at this year’s NJCAA Division III National Tournament.

Way to go teams!

Wellness Program Newsletter

Submitted by Joyce Traczyk, Student Activities

Attached is the December Anoka-Ramsey Community College employee wellness program newsletter.

This resource is intended to assist you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to provide up-to-date information regarding wellness.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for our next monthly newsletter.

Stress Free Week!

Submitted by Joyce Traczyk, Student Activities

Please encourage your students to take advantage of the events planned for Stress Free Week, Monday, Dec. 10 through Friday, Dec. 14.

The jazz ensemble will perform music in variety of jazz styles, including shuffle, swing, funk rock, and Afro-Cuban jazz. The guitar ensemble will perform arrangements of 18th century baroque music, contemporary pieces by Annette Kruisbrink and Leo Brouwer and a jazz suite arranged for guitars. The chamber ensemble will feature three students performing their original work written for two guitars and drums.

Featuring various choral works by composers including Victoria, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Stroope, Alfven, and Bass.

Toys for Tots and Food Drive Dec. 10 - 14

Submitted by John Herbert, Phi Theta Kappa Advising

Bring non-perishable food items and personal care/hygiene products (soap, shampoo, baby lotion and wipes, etc.) as well as unwrapped new items, especially for 12 to 16 year olds, to any of the food drive and Toys for Tots boxes located in the following areas next week:

Student Commons area

Institutional Advancement/Financial Aid conference room area (SC251)

Math Skills and Advising/ Veteran's Center (lower level L122), and

BN (Bulge) area

We also need volunteers to deliver toys to the local Toys for Tots drop-off. For additional information, please contact John Herbert at 763-433-1538 or via email.

Counseling Services at the Coon Rapids Campus

Submitted by Counseling Department

As we continue toward the end of the semester the Counseling Department would like to take this opportunity to extend our services to you and your students.

During the final weeks of the semester you may encounter students who are experiencing personal situations that are negatively impacting their success in your course. It may stem from the illness and/or death of loved one, relationships problems with parents or significant others, an issue with chemical use/abuse or one of the many other challenges our students encounter. Please know that we are here to help.

Students can call 763-433-1240 to set up a convenient time for an individual counseling appointment with Michelle Mucha, Nancy Elk or me, MaryAnn Larios. They can also come to the Information Desk in the upper level of the College Services Building and set up a time to meet with one of us.

If the situation feels more urgent to you, you may choose to walk the student over and let the Information Desk staff know that they need to be seen immediately by a counselor and one of us will be contacted. If you bring a student over, please have them sit in the area behind the Information Desk and then privately discuss your request with a staff person.

We’ve attached a copy of our Counseling Services brochure for your convenience. If you would like copies to keep at your desk please let me know.

We also wanted you to be aware that we have web pages that describe our services in greater detail:

New Arrivals!

Please join in congratulating Matt Venneman (Bookstore) and his wife Ann on the birth of their son, Ethan Matthew, born Dec. 5 at 3:18 a.m. He weighed 7.0 lbs and was 19.5 inches long. Everyone is doing great. Congratulations Matt, Ann and family!

Hellos, Goodbyes and Changes in Responsibilities

Welcome Laurie Lopez to Facilities

Submitted by Roger Freeman, Facilities Department

Laurie has worked at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for more than 10 years in various capacities including: contract administrator for continuing education and customized training, an accounting officer in the Business Office/H2P and most recently as a faculty secretary for Upper Humanities, Fine Arts, Engineering and Wellness. She previously worked at Central Lakes College in the Business Office and at St. Cloud Technical College in the Fire/EMS Customized Training.

Laurie is located in office C158 at the Coon Rapids campus and can be reached at 763-433-1278. Feel free to stop by and introduce yourself.

Pause for Appreciation

Thank you, Jason Siems and John Davis, for your generous support in the way that you welcomed our customized training class of Cambridge Metals and Plastics employees this morning. For most of the participants, this was the first time that they were on the Cambridge campus. Adult learners from a manufacturing background (most with a high school education or less) are a little bit wary of coming to a college campus. You made them feel comfortable and welcome to the Cambridge campus. It makes for a great learning community.

Winter Choral Concerts

Submitted by Nicki Toliver, Music Department

Free and open to the public!

Upcoming Concert Band, String Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble Event

Submitted by Kate Hujda, Music Department

The Concert Band, String Orchestra, and Chamber Ensemble will perform their Fall Concert this Thursday, Dec. 6 starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the Coon Rapids Campus. The event is free and open to everyone.

The concert band will perform works by Gustav Holst and Frank Ticheli. The string orchestra will perform works written and arranged by the ensemble’s director, Nicholas Gaudette. They will also perform Pulkkinen’s “Angry Birds,” from the eponymous video game, in an arrangement written by the string orchestra.

Joining them will be one of this semester’s chamber ensembles. This smaller ensemble will play works by jazz greats such as Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones.

Please join us in celebrating their hard work this semester!

Creative Writing Club Public Reading Dec. 5

Submitted by Tracy Youngblom (Turner), English Department

Members of the Coon Rapids Campus Creative Writing Club will read publicly from their stories and poems this Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Coon Rapids Campus Legacy Room.

As the Advisor of the club, I join student members in saying we are excited for the opportunity to present to the community. Please mark your calendars and join us in supporting the fine work of students next Wednesday.

Coon Rapids Campus Student Art Sale, Dec. 11 through 14

Just in time for the gift-giving season, the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus Art Club is holding the Bi-Annual Student Art Sale.

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 13, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is held in the College Services area at the bottom of the grand staircase. Student art sales allow the public to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts such as hand-blown glass pieces, jewelry, ceramic pieces with beautiful textures and glazes, paintings and pencil and charcoal drawings while supporting students and art in the community.

Don’t miss your chance to support young artists by adding to your collection of original art work or giving a gift like no other.